The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-08-27

/
eager for any chance to improve his modest
fortune.
The next time Nora saw HIM the chance
had come-the golden chance which was to
start him on the road to fortune, and give
him something more substantial than the
love of an honest heart to lay at the feet of
his chosen bride.
II was an offer to go South and take a
lucrative position in one of the great iron
mines of that region, and Frank lost not a
moment in accepting it,
''It's the best piece of luck in the world,
darling" he said cheerily, to Nora, who
wept most passionately, when he came to
say goodbye. ITS my first step on the
road to wealth, and | shall soon be in a
position to claim my bride and take her to
our new home in the South Nothing can
daunt me so long rs have my Nora's love
and trust.''
SO he went, and it seemed to Nora that
all the sunshine of her life went with him.
Was it a true presentiment, or only her
foolish fancy?-that ceaseless whisper that
she heard in every falling leaf. in every
passing breeze:
He is gone from YOU foreYerr'
Several letters came in quick succession,
all full of love and hope.
Then another, dated, to her surprise, from
New Orleans, in which Frank spoke of
business having called him there, and then
"a long, unbroken silence.
Nora's beautiful, dusky face grew white
and despairing as the weeks went by !;
there was touching pathos in the dark
eyes unutterably sad and pitiful.
All! that weary, waiting and longing for
the letter that meyer comes!
Those who have suffered it know all its
bitter heartsickness, and those who haye
not cannot understand.
Julien Malvern continued to call at the
Langdon cottage neither more nor less
frequently than of old; but he fell into
habit of staying longer when he did call,
and grew, almost imperceptibly, more at
tentive to beautiful, sad-eyed Nora.
In her thoughts he was kind friend
|
gentle, unspoken sympathy, which he knew
so well how to express.
One afternoon she wandered idly down
to the little rustic bridge, where she and
Frank had often stood together. and leaned
againstits rail, letting the soft south wind
the same wind, she sometimes fancied
that hat stirred his bonny auburn curls-
caress her pale, worn cheek.
Suddenly a step sounded near, and, al
most before she could turn, Mr. Malvern
was close beside her, and had taken the
little white hand which rested upon the
rail in his.
'Nora-let me call you SO this once" he
began with startling suddenness; ''t
grieyes me to the heart to see you looking
so pale and sorrowful--so like the ghost OF
your own bright self. | do not believe now
that Frank ever intends TO return to you.
Something has changed him; perhaps
new love has caused him to forget you.
Why should you mourn for him so hope
lessly? | have learned, in these last few
weeks, to love you, Nora" And the pas
sion so intense, so long repressed, now sud-
denly revealed itself in every line of his
darkly handsome face. "Oh, let me take
the place of one who is faithless and"
''No more, sir-not another word! - cried
Nora, haughtily, snatching her hand away
and moving back, as though he had been
some hideous monster instead of the hand
some man he was. "How dare you insult
me by such language, when you see this
ring-his ring-still upon my hand" And
she held it up where the sunlight struck it
into thousand starry sparkles. "IIe is
not false" she went on, with passionate
intensity in herlow, thrilling voic'. "Some
evil fate may have befallen him, and he
may never return, but neither you nor any
other shall ever take his place in my
hearth
MalYern's face was winter now than
Nora's own; all the sudden heat and glow
of his strong passion seemed to have died
out as swiftly as it came, and he turned
away with only pity and regret in his deep
black eyes.
"Forgiye me, Nora,' he said, with a
gentle sadness that touched the girls tried
heart. 81 was selfish to thus intrude my
own loye-which is now hopeless-upon
your notice; but the sight of your sweet,
sad face, so dear to me, oyercame my
strength, and had to speak. But will
leave you TO your own thoughts. hope
your faith in your lover is not in vain.
But, Nora, | wish you to remember that
l love you; and, in JOY or sorrow, you will
ever find me your faithful friend"
He strobe swiftly away, and Nora looked
after him with her dark eyes full of self
reproach and pain. He was so generous
and noble, and she had wounded him with
her cruel words
Some time after that interview south
ern newpaper came into her hands; but,
looking back long afterward, she never
could remember clearly just how ii hap
peDed-and in il, conspieuously marked in
heavy ink-lines, was marriage notice.
1t was Frank Bartley's, and the date was
months ago-the place New Orleans.
She sat for an hour with her eyes fixed
stonily upon those glaring lines; then quiet
ly drew from her finger his sparkling ring
; the beautiful loye-gift she had cherished
7 and hurled it with ali her strength tar
= out among the deep, wet grass.
From thar hour Frank Bartley's name
never crossed her lips; and when, soon af-
ter, Mr.. Malvern, whom she had not even
seen since that day on the bridge, met heI
by the merest accident in one of her Gus.
Z tomary strolls, and noticing the absence Of
I the precious ring, ventured TO hint III,
/. once forbidden subject, he met with no re
4 pulse.